Innovative Voice and Physical Opera

Developmental direction for vocal-physical opera

• It has been 100 years since the commencement of the opera industry in China. In the current multi-cultural environment, there needs to be innovation in opera in China. The state government has already devoted large sums to support innovation and original creation in opera.
• Cultural exchanges between China and foreign nations have developed to an unprecedented degree, and so it will be easier to develop a new style of physical-vocal opera.
• There is also a great need for innovation in opera internationally, and the problem of an aging audience is in pressing need of solutions.
• The fusion inherent in vocal-physical opera represents the cutting edge of directing techniques. It aims to increase the visual impact of the action unfolding onstage, thereby attracting a younger audience.
• Vocal-physical opera can help the genre break free from the restrictions of the theatre. It is adaptable to performances in small venues (galleries, repurposed industrial buildings, etc.), lessening expenditures while helping to diversify the operatic form.
• The stage design concept must take the physical nature of the performers as a basis, creating costumes which are suited to the specific performers, thereby increasing the artistic range of this aspect of the production.
• This fresh approach to the performing arts aims to satisfy both the high visual and aural requirements of the modern audience.
• Research into vocal-physical synthesis will give rise to an opera with a distinctive style, and will be an important influence on the development of opera internationally.
• These techniques can be applied not only to opera, but also to stage plays, musical theatre, physical theatre, etc., aiming to blend the best of the Western theatrical tradition with the characteristic elements of various Chinese traditions (including not only theatrical traditions such as Chinese opera, but also various martial arts) all with the goal of broadening the expressive range of the performance.

Prospects for Vocal-Physical theatre

• It is a new art form which was inspired by the diverse real-world experiences of a performer.
• It will bring audiences a completely new theatrical experience.
• It will break new ground in East-West cultural fusion.
• It will be beneficial for the development and marketing of small-scale operas.
• It will be of great educational value in the training of opera performers.
• It will propel the continued development of the operatic tradition and have widespread influence on performance practices in the genre.

Theatre Director – Musical Theatre, Opera, Vocal and Physical

Operatic Tenor

Voice and Physical technique research and practice coach

Shanghai Spatial Voice and Physical Studio Founder

＋86 13818495772

＋86 18616907562

＋44 7907974063 (England)

shiru1717@icloud.com

williamwang@kongrangcultural.com

Education

2000-2005 (BA) Renmin University of China

5-year undergraduate programme in Music Performance

2015-2017

East 15 Acting School, United Kingdom (MFA) Theatre Directing

Work Experience

2006-2015, Shanghai Opera House, Opera Performer

Directing Work

Jean Cocteau/Francis Poulenc: La Voix Humaine as Executive Director, China tour

Sarah Kane: Blasted, London

Yasmina Reza: Art, London

Original Vocal and Physical theatre production: Erotic Poem, London

Donizetti: L’elisir d’amore, London

Mo Fan: Thunderstorm, as Assistant Stage Supervisor, Shanghai

2017 CCTV Harbin Spring Festival Musical: Autumn Fairy Tale, as Executive Director

2017 Original English Opera: The Monk and The Lotus, Tête à Tête International Opera Festival, Director, Librettist, and Artistic Producer

International Opera

Puccini: Turandot, as PONG

2008

National Centre for the Performing Arts, worked with conductor Lü Jia and theatre director Xinyi Chen

2009

Shanghai Grand Theatre, worked with conductor Guoyong Zhang

2010

Seoul National Grand Theatre, conductor Xinchao Li

2017

National Centre for the Performing Arts 10 year anniversary, conductor Lü Jia, worked with an international cast

Puccini: Tosca as SPOLETTA

2011

Guangzhou Grand Theatre (opening ceremony), worked together with Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, conductor Danny Orland, and director Maurizio di Mattia

Shostakovich: The Nose, as chief police officer

2006 – Chinese premiere

Produced by Shanghai Opera House, conductor, Guoyong Zhang, Director Xinyi Chen

Leoncavallo: Pagliacci, as Beppe

2008

Produced by Shanghai Opera House, conductor Guoyong Zhang, director Maurizio di Mattia

Verdi: Otello

2008

Finland Savonlinna Opera Festival, conductor Guoyong Zhang, director Maurizio di Mattia

Rossini: The Barber of Seville, as Count Almaviva

2009 produced by Shanghai Opera House

UK original musical production: Plum Blossom, as father Lee

2015 Produced by Golden Smith University

Mozart: Requiem

2008 to celebrate China and Italy diplomatic relations, performance at the Vatican

2008 Vienna Musikverein performance

Other operas in which I have performed in minor roles:

Le Nozze di Figaro

L’elisir d’amore

II trittico

Macbeth

Chorus:

La Boheme, La Traviata, Otello, Rigoletto, Carmen, The Merry Widow

 Chinese Opera/Musical

2006-2011

Mo Fan: Thunderstorm, Shanghai Opera House, conductor: Zhang Guoyong, director: Zha Minzhe

2009

Lei Lei: Xi Shi, National Centre for the Performing Arts, conductor: Chen Zuohuang, director: Cao Qijing

2008

Guo Wenjing: The Poet Li Bai, Shanghai Opera House, performed in Rome in conjunction with China Cultural Year, conductor: Zhang Guoyong, director: Lin Zhaohua

2009 Collaboration between Shanghai Grand Theatre and Beijing Baoli Theatre

An Dong: Master Hongyi, multi-media musical production

2009 Shanghai Theatre Academy, Shanghai Oriental Art Centre, Shanghai Cultural Promotion, director: Xiong Yanwei

2010 Shanghai Grand Theatre and Shanghai Theatre Academy

2010

Jin Xiang: The Wilderness

2010

Yan Su: Sister Jiang

Audio and video recording work

2010 recorded a gospel album: God Holds My Hand

2015 BBC Online Education programme: BBC MANDARIN SUPERHERO SCHOOL

2016 Musical: Aladdin produced in UK, audio and video recording

Coaching and international events experience

2007-2016 various experience in vocal coaching

2011-2016 conducted research in vocal and physical techniques and began coaching these techniques

2014-2016 began corresponding and exchanging professional knowledge internationally on vocal and physical theory and its practice and application.

Coached and conducted choral groups using these innovative and unique vocal and physical techniques.

-Performed in international musical events such as the Savonlinna Opera Festival, Macau International Music Festival, Beijing International Music Festival, Shanghai Spring International Music Festival, and the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

-Invited to Italy’s Cina Vicina 2008.

-Have given performances in the Vatican, Vienna, Salzburg, Berlin, Finland, Korea, Singapore, and Sweden etc.